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Pentax ist DS2 vs Sony NEX-F3

Portability
68
Imaging
44
Features
33
Overall
39
Pentax ist DS2 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-F3 front
Portability
86
Imaging
57
Features
60
Overall
58

Pentax ist DS2 vs Sony NEX-F3 Key Specs

Pentax ist DS2
(Full Review)
  • 6MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 200 - 3200
  • Pentax KAF Mount
  • 605g - 125 x 93 x 66mm
  • Launched August 2005
Sony NEX-F3
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 16000
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 314g - 117 x 67 x 42mm
  • Introduced August 2012
  • Superseded the Sony NEX-C3
  • Later Model is Sony NEX-3N
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Pentax ist DS2 vs Sony NEX-F3 Overview

Following is a in depth analysis of the Pentax ist DS2 versus Sony NEX-F3, former is a Advanced DSLR while the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by companies Pentax and Sony. There exists a sizable gap between the resolutions of the ist DS2 (6MP) and NEX-F3 (16MP) but they use the exact same sensor sizing (APS-C).

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The ist DS2 was launched 8 years earlier than the NEX-F3 which is quite a significant difference as far as technology is concerned. Each of these cameras come with different body type with the Pentax ist DS2 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Sony NEX-F3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go through a thorough comparison, below is a simple view of how the ist DS2 matches up against the NEX-F3 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Pentax ist DS2 over the Sony NEX-F3

 ist DS2 NEX-F3 

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-F3 over the Pentax ist DS2

 NEX-F3 ist DS2 
IntroducedAugust 2012August 2005More modern by 85 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display dimension3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution920k210kCrisper display (+710k dot)

Common features in the Pentax ist DS2 and Sony NEX-F3

 ist DS2 NEX-F3 
Focus manually Dial exact focusing
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch friendly display Lacking Touch friendly display

Pentax ist DS2 vs Sony NEX-F3 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is going to carry around your camera frequently, you'll have to factor in its weight and volume. The Pentax ist DS2 has external measurements of 125mm x 93mm x 66mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.6") and a weight of 605 grams (1.33 lbs) and the Sony NEX-F3 has sizing of 117mm x 67mm x 42mm (4.6" x 2.6" x 1.7") with a weight of 314 grams (0.69 lbs).

Check out the Pentax ist DS2 versus Sony NEX-F3 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you are working with during that time. Below is the front view scale comparison of the ist DS2 versus the NEX-F3.

Pentax ist DS2 vs Sony NEX-F3 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the ist DS2 and NEX-F3 is 68 and 86 respectively.

Pentax ist DS2 vs Sony NEX-F3 top view buttons comparison

Pentax ist DS2 vs Sony NEX-F3 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it's tough to see the difference between sensor sizes merely by checking a spec sheet. The picture here may offer you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the ist DS2 and NEX-F3.

Clearly, the two cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements but not the same resolution. You can anticipate the Sony NEX-F3 to give you extra detail utilizing its extra 10MP. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop images somewhat more aggressively. The more aged ist DS2 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor innovation.

Pentax ist DS2 vs Sony NEX-F3 sensor size comparison

Pentax ist DS2 vs Sony NEX-F3 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax ist DS2 vs Sony NEX-F3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Pentax ist DS2
Portrait photography with Sony NEX-F3
50
you can focus manually
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
no liveview feature
megapixel count low (6 megapixels)
74
you can focus manually
decent MP (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Pentax ist DS2 Street photography info
Sony NEX-F3 Street photography info
60
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
lighter than competition (605g)
screen is fixed
no image stabilization
76
screen tilts
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Pentax ist DS2 as a Sports photography camera
Sony NEX-F3 as a Sports photography camera
38
nice sensor size (APS-C)
comes with phase detect autofocus
no liveview feature
continuous shooting slow (3.0 frames per second)
no image stabilization
megapixel count low (6 megapixels)
53
decent MP (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
great battery life (470 per charge)
very slow continuous shooting (6.0 frames/s)
lack of image stabilization
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Pentax ist DS2 as a Travel photography camera
Sony NEX-F3 as a Travel photography camera
52
lighter than competition (605g)
built-in flash
does not have Timelapse recording
megapixel count low (6 megapixels)
does not posses selfie friendly display
69
great battery life (470 CIPA)
decent MP (16MP)
flash built-in
does not have Timelapse recording
does not have a selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax ist DS2 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony NEX-F3 as a Landscape photography camera
46
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Pentax KAF mount)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
small screen (2.5 inch)
no liveview feature
no image stabilization
megapixel count low (6 megapixels)
does not have Timelapse recording
70
you can focus manually
change lenses (Sony E mount)
nice screen size (3")
decent MP (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
great battery life (470 CIPA)
lack of image stabilization
does not have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax ist DS2 Vlogging highlights
Sony NEX-F3 Vlogging highlights
22
lighter than competition (605g)
does not posses selfie friendly display
no image stabilization
low res video ( resolution)
does not have microphone socket
27
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
does not have external microphone support
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Pentax ist DS2 vs Sony NEX-F3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax ist DS2 and Sony NEX-F3
 Pentax ist DS2Sony Alpha NEX-F3
General Information
Company Pentax Sony
Model type Pentax ist DS2 Sony Alpha NEX-F3
Type Advanced DSLR Entry-Level Mirrorless
Launched 2005-08-22 2012-08-16
Physical type Mid-size SLR Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by - Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor measurements 23.5 x 15.7mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 369.0mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 6 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 3008 x 2008 4912 x 3264
Max native ISO 3200 16000
Min native ISO 200 200
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 11 25
Lens
Lens support Pentax KAF Sony E
Number of lenses 151 121
Crop factor 1.5 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen sizing 2.5 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 210k dots 920k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen tech - TFT Xtra Fine LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical Electronic (optional)
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.64x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 3.0fps 6.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye reduction Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize - 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60, 24 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution - 1920x1080
Video data format - MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless No Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 1.0 (1.5 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 605 grams (1.33 pounds) 314 grams (0.69 pounds)
Dimensions 125 x 93 x 66mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.6") 117 x 67 x 42mm (4.6" x 2.6" x 1.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 73
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 22.7
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 12.3
DXO Low light rating not tested 1114
Other
Battery life - 470 shots
Battery style - Battery Pack
Battery ID 4 x AA NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec 3 or 5 images)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/MMC card SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Single Single
Pricing at release - $470